Co-workers are connecting across our library system, and using Twitter as another means of “internal communication,” beyond the normal channels, i.e. email, intranet, etc…

I’m one of Mick’s co-workers, and one of the people who has been using Twitter as a means of getting help on the desk. So far, we’ve all made judicious use of our own internal filter when tweeting online. As Mick said, most of the work-related questions are tied into brainstorming, or if a reference/readers’ advisory question is beyond our grasp. In both cases, tapping into the brainjuice of the collective is quite useful.

(I should also mention that most of use employ some kind of plugin that gives us a steady stream of updates. I use TwitterFox, which sits in the bottom corner of my browser and lets me know when new Tweets come in. For me, it’s a great way to be passively aware of the zeitgeist.)

The library does have its own Twitter account (skokielibrary), but we use that in a more passive sense. I took our Events RSS feed and plugged in to Twitter Feed, so we can easily broadcasting our upcoming programs. I then use Twitter Search and Twitter Local to keep an eye on Tweeters in the area, or who might be Tweeting about Skokie. I’ll check on this every hour or so, and if I see an opportunity for outreach, I’ll respond accordingly from the library’s Twitter account.

All good points. What we are doing is using twitter as an library (internal was probably a bad choice of words) communication device which also includes everybody else that follows us on Twitter. A few of the people following me have given me useful information/ideas for work subjects (I use Twitter mostly professionally).

This use of Twitter at the SPL came about very organically and spontaneously. We did not plan to use it a library communication device it just, well, kind of happened.

I agree Friendfeed or Shout-em may in fact be a better way of doing this. I wrote this blog entry as more of a question less of as an answer. If we decide to make this an official means of communication (kind of like a help button at the Ref. desk) I believe we would go with another option.

I’m curious about the specifics. If you are using twitter for internal communications, does this mean that you (personally) ONLY use twitter for in-library use? If not, wouldn’t your tweets regarding SPL go out to all of your Twitter friends? And wouldn’t this be true for all SPL employees?

It seems as if you’d have to either:
1) All only use twitter for internal communication only, thus preventing you from tweeting with others, or
2) (if you wanted to tweet within and without of the organization) you’d need to set up two twitter profiles (one SPL, one personal) and monitor both.

I feel like maybe I’m missing something obvious, but can you talk a little bit more about how you integrate (or not) your internal twitter use with external twitter use? It seems like friendfeed, with it’s ability to set up separate rooms, might lend itself more to use for internal organizational communication.

Signed, Curious in Gibbsboro